Due to the federal government shutdown, you will be receiving your February Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits early. If you received a SNAP benefit in January and were scheduled to receive SNAP in February, your February benefits will be available on your Families First card on Jan. 17.

New federal funding will allow New Jersey to recruit and train nearly 2,000 more primary-care providers to better diagnose and treat mental illness and substance abuse issues in children and adolescents, groups that often lacks access to effective behavioral healthcare.

Acting Governor Sheila Oliver today signed legislation to establish the New Jersey Caregiver Task Force, which will evaluate support services that are available to caregivers. The Task Force will also recommend improvements and expansion of such services and is required to provide an initial report within a year of its organization. 

New Jersey’s largest hospital chain on Thursday completed a merger with the state’s largest private mental health facility its executives say will create the state’s first walk-in “urgent care” center that will divert people in crisis from the emergency room.

After many years of parent interest and board member support, Holmdel schools will join the ranks of Monmouth County school districts who provide full day kindergarten. Registration is set for January 15-17 at Village Elementary School.

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) today announced the creation of an Office of Family Voice, the first of its kind among public child welfare agencies nationwide. The office will serve as a liaison to program participants and facilitate opportunities for formal feedback that informs policy and guides system transformation.

New research also shows a sharp disparity between mental health diagnoses for black and white patients.

This very exciting, important Literacy initiative will offer education classes to Spanish speaking adults in Monmouth County with the goal of connecting adults to literacy courses, ESL, further educational opportunities, and then workforce opportunities. 

Legal Services has updated its website to help people understand and take advantage of the new provisions through its Clearing Your Record Online page. The interactive site allows people to determine if they are eligible for expungement and fill out the necessary application forms for free; it is accessible from both computers and mobile phones.

Some parents and professionals said the screening is a good idea but worry about its execution and if it will address what they call the real, underlying social and mental issues facing teens.